40g reef too heavy for a upstairs apartment? Renters Ins.?

[BOMPH]

All,
lets figure this out:

80lbs sand
40 lbs LR
340 lbs of saltwater
100 lbs tank + stand

= 560 lbs.


Do you think this is too heavy for an upstairs apartment? Everything seems solid.......

I guess I just worry too much....

Also, does anyone, living in NY state, have renter's insurance of any sort under which catastrophic failure of your fishtank would be covered? IE: it went thru the floor, or a seam broke and it spilled all over

 

[PeeJ]

I don't think that is too heavy. I mean imagine if you lived with a really fat guy.,

 

[Arch01]

I was thinking the same thing PeeJ was. When I lived in my apartment, I was on the third floor and had a 75g tank. Never had any problems, just a pain carrying all that rock upstairs. I won't be doing that again.

Alex
_________________
Morphine Rehab Forum

 

[Anonymous]

I used to have renters insurance. I don't recall if it covered damage to other people's apartments below you, however. If the building can't support a 40 gallon tank, it has problems!

 

[Wiggler]

With your home insurance, just ensure you have liability coverage. This should cover you should anything happen.

Is the apartment in an apartment building or in a house?

The reason I'm asking is that if it's in an apartment building, it's concrete and the weight isn't going to make a difference.

If it's an apartment lets say in an older home, yeah it could make a big difference.

Pamela

 

[cdeakle]

I live on a second story apartment and I have a 20 gallon, 55 gallon, and a 90 gallon reef tank....

 

[BOMPH]

Thanks guys for the input. I called my insurance agent, and can get renters insurance for 11 bucks a month, that covers all my stuff if it gets stolen, ruined by 'acts of god', a fire, my tank explodes, whatever. 300,000 worth of liability, 5000 in medical coverage, and a $500 deductable.

Given all the other benefits, this is a no-brainer for 11 bucks a month. I've been robbed before.....

If any one is interested, i went thru State Farm Insurance in NY state.
I dont know if they are nationwide or not....

 

[tazdevil]

my tank explodes

Be sure to see that part in writing, esp about collateral damage to the other apartments below you. Nothing like having 40 gallons of water, and saltwaer at that, dripping through aprtments to piss some off! Some insurance companies have said "its all covered" only to find out that that was everything but a flood from a fish tank. Manmade disaster.

 

[HClH2OFish]

I agree with TazDevil on getting it in writing re:the tank.
I got royally shafted a few years back when I got renters insurance that would cover 'everything' including my waterbed....guess what? The waterbed frame collapsed and I had some seriously ticked off downstairs neighbors when all the water from a California King came through their ceiling. Called the ins. co. to find out that the waterbed should have been covered by a separate policy and asked if I'd like to purchase it! Seeing as the waterbed was no longer in the confines of its frame I politely told them what they could do with that policy....Live and learn

 

[MelanieF]

First, As long as your tank is on an outside wall you're pretty much guaranteed enough support for it even if it was a 180 gallon.

Second, I work w/ insurance every day. The $300,000 liability coverage is exactly that. If your tank breaks or loses water in any way and damages the building and/or other tenants' property you will have coverage for up to $300,000 of their damages. Say you go to your friend's house and spill red wine on their brand new white carpet. It's covered because you are liable for that damage. (i.e. Liability) Your tank itself is covered under your personal property amount, however, it will only be covered for certain perils. Meaning, fire, lightning, theft (yah right), etc. The actual inhabitants won't be covered as neither home nor renter's insurance EVER covers pets. There is info somewhere on the net that explains pet insurance options. Not sure if that includes aquariums or not... Your policy will specify what perils you're covered for. It is definately your responsibility to get the facts and read your policy. Even if it is the equivalent of a sleeping pill. :lol:

FWIW, I have a renter's policy that covers $35K personal property, $14K additional living expense (for if my apartment floods and I need money to stay somewhere else), $100K personal liability, and $1K medical payments (for if my tank falls on someone they immediately have $1000 for emergency attention). Total cost per year = $177. That's with Sterling Insurance in New York State. Any Independant Agent should be able to give you a quote which corresponds w/ your zip code and fire protection class. I would say I'd give you a quote but I'm getting out of it ASAP. Very irritating industry...

 

[MelanieF]

BTW HCIH20fish,

I'm sure you would've gotten a different story about the waterbed damages if you had a lawyer. I've been in Insurance for 5 years and find it quite laughable that they said there's separate "waterbed insurance". Either they were yanking your chain HARD or you were insured w/ some backwoods company that didn't know their @$$ from a whole in the ground.

My best friend was in a car accident last year (rearended) and her company (State Farm) told her that her large speaker box and speakers in her trunk weren't covered. They changed their tune when I gave her copies of standard paperwork that showed any PERMANENTLY INSTALLED sound equipment in a car is covered. She faxed that paperwork to them and had her new equipment within days. :wink:

--Claims representatives often are encouraged one way or another to find ways out of paying claims. Pretty darn irritating when you're the middle man between the customer and the company.

 

[BOMPH]

Thanks for the replies. I had the agent ( State Farm ) call the main 'branch' or whatever you would call it, and they said that the tank would be covered if it leaked all over, or even fell thru the floor, which I doubt would happen with a 40g tank.

I asked the question because I am a classic paranoid. Stupid stuff always bites me in the butt..... I am halfway to a downpayment on a house, and would like to make sure I get there by the beginning of next spring. If I wasn't getting married in October, I could be there mid summer.....

For $146 dollars a year, the renters insurance is mere pittance to pay for all the other benefits.

 

[silly34]

I sold a 240 gallon tank to a guy that was putting it upstairs in one of his walls, haven't heard from him in a while.

:roll:

B.

 

[BOMPH]

Well,
scratch this! Got approved for a mortgage and already found 'THE HOUSE', so just waiting for the dude to accept my offer, and I wont have to worry about this whole 'upstairs' BS again. Good thing I have all the equipment bought already, just gotta buy LR and I am up and running, but gonna wait until I move into whatever house I get.
Thanks for your replies.